Minuteman B-2100 Supersonic Bomber:

The Lockheed L-2100 was a late Twenty-First Century Airliner. With the
coming of high performance fusion turbine engines, there was a rebirth
of interest in supersonic civilian aircraft designs. One of these was the
Lockheed L-2100. It was the first on the market and produced in relatively
large numbers. A surprising number of these aircraft survived the coming
of the Rifts. Their rugged construction from high strength composites and
alloys made them surprisingly survivable.

With the coming of the Rifts, the world became a much more threatening.
While some of this is supernatural creatures, which are no real threat
to supersonic airliners, high performance fighters ended up in the hands
of those interested in carving their own place at the expense of others.
As a result, many surviving airliners began carrying improvised weaponry
for self defense purposes. In some cases, this is just a couple of light
laser turrets but in other cases this includes missiles as well.

As might be expected, some of those civilian designs were converted
to military roles. There was a proposal in the middle to later part of
the Twentieth Century, long before the coming of the Rifts, to convert
a large airliner, the Boeing 747, to carry missiles instead of cargo or
passengers. It was considered after the B-1 bomber had been canceled as
a replacement for the aging B-52 Bomber. At the time, it was decided that
new aircraft designs would incorporate stealth and the idea was not fully
developed at that time. Still after the coming of the Rifts, the concept
was reborn.

One of those aircraft best for such a conversion was the Lockheed L-2100
airliner. Being extremely fast, capable of speeds over Mach 2, it can outrun
many fighters and is extremely maneuverable. The speed of the converted
transport allows it escape from an engagement area before fighters can
even be scrambled. Its only real weakness is that it has limited cargo
carrying ability which limits the number of missiles it can carry compared
to other airliners.

Several different conversions of civilian airliners are available including
from Golden Age Weaponsmiths. The Minuteman conversion, which is available
for several other airline designs, is one of the most extensive and effective
conversions. The main conversion of the airliner is to gut the passenger
compartments and replace it with rotary missile launchers. The Minuteman
B-2100, the conversion of the L-2100, can carry up to sixty long range
missiles. Missiles are launched from the sides of what was the passenger
compartments. As well, it has light weaponry for self defense including
a pair of pulse laser turrets and a pair of medium range missile launchers
with a payload of twenty-four medium range missiles each. As well, the
electronics are upgraded including the addition of long range radar systems.
Those which did not have mounted self defense system have those added as
well. The hull of the airliner as well as engines are unmodified although
the converted airliner can still survive a surprising amount of damage.

As might be expected, these converted airliners are considered extremely
threatening by the Coalition. In most cases, the Coalition Military will
open fire without warning the aircraft. The policy is identical to their
treatment of the Iron Heart Air Castle Bomber. Unfortunately, in some cases
the Coalition has shot down L-2100 airliners before identifying them as
unarmed civilian aircraft. These conversions are operated by a number of
mercenary companies and are considered extremely dangerous.

Notes:[1] Destroying a wing will cause the plane to crash.
[2] Destruction of rudder or one elevator will still allow the aircraft
to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but aircraft
has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls.
Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable.
The destruction of one engine will reduce the aircraft's top speed by one
quarter and give the pilot a -1 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10%
penalty to piloting. Each destroyed engine causes cumulative effects. Destruction
of four engines will cause the aircraft to crash.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the aircraft down
completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight.

Speed:Driving on Ground (Taxiing): Only possible for take offs and
landings as well as for parking and storage. Speed is 40 mph (64 kph) when
traveling and not on take off or landing.
Flight: The B-2100 Supersonic Bomber has a top speed of Mach
2.8 (2,076.1 mph / 3,341.1 kph) with a normal cruise speed of Mach 2.5
(1650 mph / 2655.4 kph.) Maximum altitude is 80,000 feet (24,384 meters.)
The L-2100 requires a full runway.
Range: Due to Fusion engine effectively unlimited range,
need to cool down after 12 hours of flight at maximum speed. At cruising
speed, range is increased to 16 hours of flight.

High-Powered Laser Turrets (2): The bomber mounts two of
these turrets with one behind the medium range launchers on the top of
the bomber with the other under the fuselage near the tail of the bomber.
This weapon system is a relatively simple adaption of the laser elements
of the JA-12 Juicer Assault Rifle mounted into turrets. In addition to
being retractable, the turrets have the ability to rotate 360 degrees and
have a 90 degree arc of fire. The laser cannons pull power directly from
the fusion reactor of the aircraft. The turrets are both radar and infrared
guided and has a +4 to hit when set to automatic firing and uses bonuses
of gunner when fired on manual. Primary target for defense laser systems
is missiles which is considered to be one of the biggest threats. When
controlled manually, weapon mounts are usually controlled by the two secondary
crew members.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters).
Mega Damage: 4D6 for single shot and 1D6x10+10 for three round
burst from cannon.
Rate of Fire:Equal to gunner's hand to hand (When Automated,
can fire up to 6 times per melee and has +4 to strike)
Payload: Unlimited (Draws Power off the main engines).

Long Range Missile Launchers: These launchers are on either
side or the converted airliner with missiles being carried in the converted
passenger compartment. The launcher can use a vast variety of missiles
including surface skimming missiles and rocket propelled torpedoes. Long
range missiles are normally used against large targets and aircraft / missiles.
About half of all missiles carried are fusion warheads and most missiles
are normally smart missiles.
Maximum Effective Range: As per long range missile type (See revised
bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega Damage: As per long range missile type (See revised
bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire long range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), or ten (10)
long range missiles per launcher per melee. Missile cells are automatically
reloaded and are ready to fire next melee.
Payload: 60 Long Range Missiles Total.

Medium Range Missile Launchers (2): Mounted in retractable
launchers on either side of the bomber just behind the cockpit. The launchers
only extend when about to be fired and are virtually concealed when not
in firing mode and do not produce drag when fully retracted. Each launcher
has two ready to fire missiles. The launchers are reloaded from a magazine
by an automatic reload system within the bomber's body. Weapon can be controlled
by any of the bomber's crew although most commonly controlled by the pilot
or co-pilot.
Maximum Effective Range: Varies with medium range missile type;
Usually plasma or armor piercing are carried (See
revised
bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega Damage: Varies with medium range missile type; Usually
plasma or armor piercing are carried (See
revised
bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time, or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) missiles.
Payload: Twenty-Four (24) missiles in magazine for each launcher
plus two in each of the launchers.

Anti-Missile Chaff Dispenser: Located at the very tail of
the aircraft are two chaff dispensers. When tailed by a missile, a cloud
of chaff and other obtrusive particles can be released to confuse or detonate
the enemy's attack. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate
against Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects
by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
Effect:

Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind flying monsters that
fly through cloud. They will suffer the following penalties: reduce melee
attacks/actions, combat bonuses, and speed by half. Duration: 1D4 melee
rounds.
Payload: Eight (8)

Special Equipment:The aircraft has all the standard features of a standard fighter (same
as standard robot including loudspeaker and microphone on this aircraft)
plus these special features listed..

Radar System: Range of 500 miles (805 km) and can identify and track
up to 96 targets simultaneously. It is also capable of Terrain Following
for low altitude flight. With Combat & Targeting Computer, the Lancer
can fire missiles at up to twenty four targets at the same time.

Internal Active Jamming Gear: Causes -25% to detection but when
it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that it is jamming, and
some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4
penalty to all radar guided weapons.